the wall was not so high. There they
saw huge caravans of camels laden with 'brick tea' going towards
Russia. Here they were forced to have the axle-trees of their
carts widened, for they had come into a part of the country where
the wheels were always set wider apart than in the province
whence they came. Their carts therefore no longer filled the deep
ruts which had been worn in the roads.

"The chief object of their journey had been to ascertain whether
there was in the inner wall any pass besides the Tchatiaou, which
on that side of the country led from the Russian territory to
Peking. They pushed along southwards, in vain trying for a long
time to find a way eastward over the mountains. It was not till
they reached Taiyuen that they struck into the road that led to
Peking or Tientsin.

"In this town, for the first time on their journey, they got into
any kind of trouble. When their bill was brought them for their
night's lodging they found that the charge was enormous. Seeing
that a dispute would arise, they sent on their carts, and waited
at the inn till they felt sure that they had got well on their
way. They then, like the three Quakers with whom Charles Lamb
travelled to Exeter, offered what they thought a reasonable sum.
It was refused. They tried to mount their horses, but the people
of the inn stopped them. Major Gordon took out his revolver, for
show more than for use, for he allowed them to take it from him.
He thereupon said, 'Let us go to the Mandarin!'

"To this they agreed, and at the same time they gave him back his
revolver. They all walked towards the Mandarin's house--the two
Englishmen alongside their horses. On the way Major Gordon said
to his companion, 'Are you ready to mount?' 'Yes,' he answered.
So they mounted quietly, and went on with the people. When they
reached the Mandarin's they turned horses, and scampered after
their carts as fast as they could. The people yelled and rushed
after them, but it was too late.

"Some way beyond Taiyuen they came upon the pass over the
mountains which led down into the country drained by the Peiho.
The descent was a terrible one. All along the cold had been
intense--so much so that raw eggs were frozen hard as if they had
been boiled. To add to their troubles, when they